How Does Semaglutide For Weight Loss Work?

Posted on

Semaglutide is the basis of a class of medicines originally intended to treat type-2 diabetes. While it continues to primarily serve the role, many clinical studies found that it also promotes weight loss in many cases. Some doctors may even prescribe a semaglutide injection off-label for this purpose in individuals who are overweight or obese.

Folks with experience dealing with other weight loss options may be skeptical, and that's justified. However, semaglutide for weight loss is one of the most promising options to appear in decades. Let's look at how it works and whether it might help you lose weight.

Glucagon

Glucagon is a hormone that appears mostly in the pancreas. It operates as a trigger for converting glycogen into glucose. Glucose is what people commonly call blood sugar. It is one of the essential fuels your body stores to power your daily activities. In other words, you need it to basically do anything. You literally could lift a finger without it.

When glucagon production ramps up, it triggers your body's fat metabolism and blood pressure regulation. It is especially important for fueling your body between meals. Notably, it also regulates your feelings of both fullness and hunger. If this process is out of whack, as often happens in type-2 diabetes cases, a person's body may struggle to properly regulate blood sugar production.

Semaglutide

Doctors classify semaglutide as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. Its goal is to suppress glucagon secretion. Ideally, the reduced secretion of glucagon will slow the process of your body emptying your gastric system.

Practitioners prescribe it as a semaglutide injection. Most versions are available as a once-per-week injection. This makes it significantly more convenient than many other medicines for weight loss and diabetes.

Notably, there is no supplement version of semaglutide. You must consult with a doctor, and then they'll decide whether to prescribe semaglutide for weight loss.

Efficacy

According to a study that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, off-label prescription of a semaglutide injection produced at least a 5% reduction in weight. People in the trial were assigned the treatment or a placebo for 68 weeks. Both groups also received lifestyle interventions, but the semaglutide group outperformed the control group.

Is Semaglutide Right for You?

Generally, semaglutide is for people who are obese or overweight. You can consult with your doctor, who'll likely request testing for diabetes. They will also measure your BMI, and they might request a body fat test, too. Working from this information, your doctor will then decide if semaglutide is right for you.


Share